Norton Reserva Malbec
Norton Reserva Malbec is a 750mL red wine from Mendoza, Argentina — 100% Malbec drawn roughly half from the Valle de Uco and half from Luján de Cuyo (per Wine Advocate/Vinous sourcing notes carried by importer Kobrand), from vineyards more than 30 years old, and aged 12 months in French oak. Reserva is the estate tier of Bodega Norton, the 1895-founded Luján de Cuyo winery: darker, deeper and more structured than the everyday bottling. Alcohol varies by vintage — documented releases run 14.0% to 14.7% ABV — so check the label for your bottle's exact figure. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: Varies by vintage — documented range 14.0%–14.7%
- Size: 750mL
- Region: Mendoza, Argentina — ~50% Valle de Uco, ~50% Luján de Cuyo
- Varietal: 100% Malbec
- Aging: 12 months in French oak, plus bottle aging before release
- Vines: More than 30 years old; estate vineyards at 850–1,100 m
- Producer: Bodega Norton, Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo (founded 1895)
An 1895 Estate's Reserve Tier
Bodega Norton was founded in 1895 by English engineer Edmund James Palmer Norton, who planted his first vines in Luján de Cuyo below the Andes; in 1989 the winery was acquired by Austrian businessman Gernot Langes-Swarovski of the Swarovski crystal family. The Reserva is built as the estate's step up: old-vine Malbec split between Luján's historic home vineyards and high Uco Valley fruit, given a full year in French oak so fruit and wood sit together rather than apart. Critics have rewarded the formula — the 2021 vintage scored 91 points with Wine Advocate and 92 with Vinous (scores are vintage-specific). Find the estate on the Norton vendor page or browse the red wine collection.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Expressive ripe black fruit with violets and tobacco (winery copy). Palate: Deep red fruit, purple-hinted and concentrated, with the oak folded in as spice and structure. Finish: Long, elegant, complex.
How to Enjoy
Serve at cool room temperature, ideally with a short decant. Argentine Malbec's home pairing is grilled beef — ribeye, skirt steak, chimichurri — but lamb and hard aged cheeses work just as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ABV of Norton Reserva Malbec? It varies by vintage — documented releases run 14.0% to 14.7% ABV (the 2021 is 14.5%). The listing carries no vintage, so the label on the bottle in hand is the exact source.
Where does the fruit come from? Roughly half Valle de Uco and half Luján de Cuyo in Mendoza, per Wine Advocate/Vinous notes on recent vintages — old vineyards of more than 30 years at the foot of the Andes.
How is it aged? Twelve months in French oak barrels, followed by bottle aging before release. Whether the barrels are new or used has varied by vintage.
Old-vine Mendoza Malbec, estate tier — pick up Norton Reserva Malbec at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.